Manatee Springs

"The history of life on Earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings." E. O. Wilson

Manatee Springs is a celebration of Florida’s magnificent biodiversity, highlighting the Florida manatee, and a plea for its long-term conservation. Much of Florida’s biodiversity is under siege. The fate of Florida’s wildlife and wild places is in our hands. Each one of us can make a difference.

Manatee Springs opened in 1999 and was awarded the Munson Aquatic Conservation Exhibitry Award and a Significant Achievement Exhibit Award from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association in 2000. The sights, sounds and smells of Florida greet visitors as they enter Manatee Springs. A boardwalk leads people through a greenhouse showcasing the American alligator and the American crocodile in their habitats.

Visitors then pass into the underwater world of the manatee in a freshwater spring habitat. Cameras positioned above and behind the manatee tank provide a behind-the-scenes experience for visitors. Beyond the manatee tank, visitors are greeted by a host of small exhibits displaying a variety of Florida’s wildlife as well as an interpretive area where they can explore biodiversity issues through computer interactives and volunteer interpreters.

Photos (clockwise, from top):
Manatees, Green Iguana, American Alligator, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Spotted Gar